A new chapter in digestive health care began Monday in Medford as Asante officially opened its Gastroenterology clinic, marking the completion of a long-anticipated acquisition designed to strengthen and expand gastrointestinal services across Southern Oregon.
The clinic, now operating as Asante Gastroenterology, is the result of Asante’s acquisition of Gastroenterology Consultants, PC, a long-established local practice. After years of collaboration between the two organizations, the transition brings the former private practice under the umbrella of Asante Physician Partners, the health system’s medical group. The move is intended to ensure long-term stability, recruitment growth, and sustained access to specialized GI care in a region where demand for services continues to rise.
The three physicians and five advanced practice providers who previously practiced with Gastroenterology Consultants will continue caring for patients at the same Medford location. They are now employees of Asante, a transition leaders say will enhance operational support while maintaining continuity for patients.
Dr. Adam Mougey of Asante Gastroenterology described the opening as a significant milestone for the Rogue Valley. “We are excited about what today represents for patients in the Rogue Valley. By joining a local, well-respected organization, we are expanding access for care and improving resources for recruitment, to support the needs of patients,” he said.
Gastroenterology services are considered a critical component of regional health care systems, particularly as populations age and rates of chronic digestive conditions increase. Procedures such as colonoscopies remain essential tools in the early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer, one of the most common cancers in the United States. Beyond preventive screenings, the clinic provides diagnosis and treatment for a broad range of digestive and liver disorders, as well as long-term management of chronic gastrointestinal diseases.
In addition to outpatient services, physicians affiliated with Asante Gastroenterology provide inpatient care at Rogue Regional Medical Center. They also assist with coordinating patient transfers throughout Asante’s nine-county service area, a geographic footprint that spans much of Southern Oregon and Northern California. Health system officials say integrating the clinic more fully into Asante’s network will improve coordination between hospital and outpatient care settings.
Angie Simonson, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Asante, emphasized the broader implications of the acquisition. “This new Asante Physician Partners clinic represents strong collaboration and partnership to ensure sustainable local health care. We are excited that this service will not only stay, but grow in our community,” she said.
Recruitment is expected to play a central role in that growth. Southern Oregon, like many rural and semi-rural regions, faces persistent challenges in attracting and retaining specialty physicians. By bringing the gastroenterology practice into the larger health system structure, Asante leaders say they can leverage expanded resources, competitive benefits, and system-wide support to draw additional providers to the region in the coming years.
The clinic is located at 2860 Creekside Circle, just off Barnett Road and directly across from Rogue Regional Medical Center. Its proximity to the hospital is designed to facilitate streamlined referrals and convenient access for patients requiring both outpatient consultations and hospital-based procedures.
For residents of Medford and surrounding communities, the transition may appear seamless on the surface, with the same providers practicing in the same building. Behind the scenes, however, health care leaders describe the shift as a strategic investment in specialty care that they believe will help safeguard access to digestive health services for years to come.
Asante Gastroenterology now operates as part of Asante Physician Partners, reinforcing the health system’s integrated model of care. With patient demand for gastrointestinal services continuing to grow, health officials say the clinic’s opening signals not just continuity, but a commitment to expansion and long-term sustainability in Southern Oregon’s evolving health care landscape.